Apparatus for treating crushed ore products for the recovery of the metal contents thereof.



A. J. ARBUOKLE. 1 APPARATUS FOR TREATING ORUSHED oEE PRODUGTS EOE THE RECOVERY OF TEE METAL CONTENTS THEREOF.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 14, 1910.

1,008,513, Patented N0v.14, 1911.

2 8HEETSSHEBT 1.

cOLummA PLANOGRAI'H C0. WASHINGTON. I) c.

A.YJ. ARBUCKLBI.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING CRUSHED ORE PRODUCTS FOR THE RECOVERY OF THE METAL CONTENTS THEREOF. APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1910.

Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

2 SHEETS-BHBET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO-,WASKlNflTON, 11.12

UNTTED @TATEN PATENT @FFTCE.

ALEXANDER JOHN ARBUOKLE, OF JOHANNESBURG, TRANSVAAL.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING CRUSHEID ORE PRODUCTS FOR THE RECOVERY OF THE METAL CONTENTS THEREOF.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER JOHN AR- BUCKLE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of Johannesburg, Transvaal, have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Treating Crushed Ore Products for the Recovery of the Metal Contents Thereof, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus or plant designed more particularly for the treatment of pulverized or crushed auriferous ore products for the recovery of the precious metal contents thereof.

The apparatus is applicable for treating the mill pulp or the complete mixture of solids and liquid as it is received from the mill or reduction plant; or for the treatment of sands -the separated coarse productsor slimes the separated fine products. The apparatus may also be utilized in the treatment of other comminuted ores.

For the purpose of separating liquids such as cyanid or other solutions, wash water or the like from the solid constituent of ore pulp, it has been proposed to employ a settling vessel and to remove the settled solids from the bottomrof said vessel by means of an inclined screw conveyer or conveyers. In the case of deep tanks, or where it has been desired to elevate said solids to a considerable height, as for example in order to lift said solids into a further treatment vessel, difficulty arises in supporting the shaft or core of the screw conveyer, the provision of intermediate supports or bearings for said shaft or core being impracticable; furthermore the driving occasions some difficulty.

Now the object of my present invention is to obviate these difficulties, and the desired end is attained by constructing the conveyer or conveyers in sections and arranging the same in sectional inter-communicating casings. The shafts of the several sections of the conveyer or conveyers may be driven from a suitably disposed main driving shaft through suitable gearing.

The invention will be more fully described by aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a part sectional elevation of an arrangement embodying one form of the invention. Fig. 2 is a view of the various sec- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application fi1ed May 14, 1910.

of long screw conveyers Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

Serial No. 561,345.

tions of the screw conveyer casings, as seen from above and at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross section of one section of the conveyer casing. Fig. 4: is a view illustrating the gearing for driving the various sec tions of the screw conveyers from the main driving shaft. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating a modification, and Fig. 6 is a view of the several sections of the screw conveyer casings, as seen from above and at right angles to Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to the construction illustrated 1n Figs. 1 to 4:, 1 represents the settling or de-watering vessel, shown as an inverted, truncated, hollow cone. Vessel 1 may be provided with the arrangement of settling cones which constitutes the subject matter of a prior application filed by me on the thirteenth day of November, 1909, Serial Number 527 ,929, or with the arrangement of settling plates which constitutes the subject matter of a prior application filed by me on the thirtieth day of October, 1909, Serial Number 525,530, or any other suitable means for accelerating the settlement of the solid component of the pulp or mixture.

The pulp or mixture of solids and liquid can be introduced into the settling vessel by any suitable means. For this purpose however I prefer to employ the device described in a prior application filed by me on the nineteenth day of March, 1910, Serial Num' ber 550,886, so as toprevent as far as possible the diffusion of the solids of the feed mixture within the vessel 1.

The settling vessel 1 is provided around the top with an annular overflow or rim launder 2, which serves for receiving the liquid separated out of the pulp or mixture.

3 indicates posts or standards for supporting vessel 1.

4 represents a cylindrical downward extension of vessel 1. At the bottom of cylindrical extension 1 is arranged a box or casing 5, which is open to or in communication with vessel 1, so that the solids as they settle can freely enter it. In the box or casing 5 one or more screw conveyers are arranged; in the particular arrangement shown, two such conveyers would be provided, one for each of the inclined conveyers. Each of the feed conveyers arranged in the box or casing 5 comprises a shaft 6 having an intermittent or continuous helical blade or screw thread 7. One end of the shaft 6 runs in a bearing 8 carried by a suitable framework 9 which serves also for supporting box or casing 5 and other portions of the driving gear. The inner end of shaft 6 runs in a bearing 10 connected to the casing by radial ribs or arms 11 between which passages are formed for the solids moved by the feed conveyers.

12 is a stufling box and gland in the end of the box or casing 5 for shaft 6, and 13 a pulley for imparting rotary motion to said shaft 6.

The box or casing 5 is preferably provided with a partition or partitions between the two feed conveyers, and said box or casing is constructed on the one side as indicated at 14 with separate outlets for each of the lowermost sections of the two inclined screw conveyers.

The feed conveyers may, as shown, he arranged horizontally, or, if preferred, at any suitable inclination. Said conveyers are preferably constructed with intermittent screw threads, as described in the specification of a prior application filed by me on the twenty-first day of June, 1909, Serial Number 503,508 and claimed in an application filed by me on the fifteenth day of May 1911, Serial Number 627,330, which is a division of said application No. 503,508.

Instead of driving the feed conveyers by means of pulley 13, they may be driven by gear wheels or other suitable means.

15 in Fig. 1 represents a vertical shaft arranged at the center of the vessel 1 and running in a footstep bearing 16 at its lower end. Shaft 15 has fixed to it a bevel wheel 17, which meshes a bevel pinion 18 on a driving shaft 19; 20 being a bearing for said latter shaft. To the shaft 15 in the lower portion of vessel 1 and cylindrical extension 4 are secured radial arms 21 in the form of an intermittent helix or screw-thread. The radial helically disposed arms or blades 21 operate to force or convey the settled solids out of the bottom or lower portion of vessel 1 into the box or casing 5, whence they are conveyed by the feed conveyers 7 to the inlet openings 22 in the lower ends of the lowermost sections 25 of the casings for the inclined screw conveyers. The inclined conveyer or conveyersof which two are shown, each comprising a plurality of parallel sections-serve for elevating the separated solids fed to them by the feed conveyers 7 and, if desired, for delivering said solids into agitating and dissolving tanks or vats. The various sections of the inclined conveyer casings are preferably constructed as shown in Fig. 3, and the several sections of the inclined screw conveyers are also preferably constructed as described in the specification of said prior application No. 503,508, filed casings 25 of the lowermost sections, in the lower ends of which the inlet openings 22 are provided, are arranged parallelsee Fig. 2and secured to the box or casing 5 in such a manner and positions that the solids conveyed by the feed conveyers 7 enter the casings 25 through said openings 22. Between the two lowermost sections 25 and extending preferably the full length of all the sections is arranged a main driving shaft 26. Shaft 26-see Fig. 1runs in a footstep bearing 27 and it is driven from a shaft 28 by bevel pinion 29 and bevel wheel 30. The casings 25 are provided with footstep or other suitable bearings 31 for supporting the lower ends of the screw conveyer shafts 32. The casings are closed at their ends beyond the bearings 31. 33 represent pipes for conducting water to the footstep bearings 31 to prevent the ingress of the solids to said bearings. The other and upper ends of each of the conveyer shafts 32 project through a gland 34 in the upper ends of the casings 25. On the ends of said shafts beyond the glands are fixed toothed wheels 35. On the main driving shaft 26 between the toothed wheels 35 is arranged a pinion 36, which is adapted, on the rotation of shaft 26, to impart motion to the shafts 32. 37 represents a clutch for the pinion 36. Above the casings 25 are arranged bearings 38 for shafts 39 which are arranged parallel with the conveyer shafts 32. Upon shafts 39 are fixed toothed wheels 40 which mesh with the toothed wheels 35 on the upper ends of the conveyer shafts 32. Instead of arranging the bearings 38 and shafts 39 above the easings 25, they may be arranged beneath them if preferred. The next upper sections 41 of the two inclined screw conveyers are shown located at the outside of the casings of the first and third sections 25 and 42 respectively. Openings or passages are provided in the sides between the overlapping upper and lower ends of adjoining sect-ions of the casings of each conveyer, so that the solids can pass from section to section from the lowermost to the uppermost casing of each screw conveyer. On top of or above the casings 41 of the second sections of the screw conveyers are provided bearings 43 for shafts 44, which are arranged parallel to each other, to shaft 39 and to the main shaft 26. Shafts 44 are provided at their lower ends with toothed wheels 45 which mesh with the toothed wheels 40 on the shafts 39. 46 are clutches for wheels 45. On the other and upper ends of the shafts 44 are fixed toothed wheels 47 which mesh with toothed wheels 48see Fig. 1fixed on the upper and outer ends of the shafts 49 of the sections of the screw conveyers which work in the second sections 41 of the screw conveyer casings. The shafts 49 at their upper ends project through glands 34, and at their lower ends run in footstep bearings similar to the shafts 32, and said bearings are provided with water supply pipes 33 to prevent the ingress of the solids. As will be understood on reference to the drawings, the third and fourth sections are driven in like manner to the first and second sections of the screw conveyers from the main driving shaft 26. 50 represents a coupling in the main driving shaft 26; 51 thrust bearings for said shaft arranged between the conveyer casings; and 53 trestling for supporting the several sections of both of the inclined screw conveyers.

On rotation of the main driving shaft 26, pinion 36 drives the shafts 32 of the two lowermost sections of the screw conveyers through toothed wheels 35. The motion is transmitted from wheels 35 through the carrier wheels 40, 45 and 47 to the toothed wheels 48 which are fixed to and drive the shafts 49 of the second sections of the screw conveyers.

The third sections 42 of the two screw conveyer casings at their lower ends are placed between the casings 41 of the second sections, and the screw conveyers operating therein are driven by a pinion on the main driving shaft similarto the sections of the conveyers working in the lowermost sections 25 of the casing. The fourth section 52 of each of the conveyers is arranged in a similar manner to the second sections, that is to say, at the outside of said third sections; and the sections of the conveyer screws working in the fourth sections of the conveyer casings are driven from the shafts of the screw conveyers in the third sections in the same manner as shafts 49 are driven from shafts 32.

One or more of the sectional screw conveyers may be provided for the settling vessel, and each conveyer may consist of any requisite number of sections, arranged and actuated as above described, according to the height to which it is desired to raise the settled solids from the bottom of the vessel.

Doors may be provided in any or all of the sections of the sectional screw conveyers to provide for access to the interior thereof for any purpose.

In the modified arrangement illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the settled solids pass directly into the casings 54, of the lowermost sections of the two inclined conveyers, from the downward extension 55 of the settling vessel 1, said extension 55 and casings 54 being suitably shaped and flanged, as shown, or otherwise suit-ably constructed, to be connected together for that purpose. The second sections 56 of the casings are so disposed relative to the casings 54 that their lower ends lie immediately beneath the upper ends of said first sections. 54. In like manner the third sections 57 at their lower ends lie beneath the upper ends of the second sections 56. The passages or openings are provided in the overlapping portions of the adjoining sections of the casings so that the solids can fall from each section into the next succeeding higher section. The shafts 58, 59 of the several sections of the two screw conveyers run in footstep bearings in the lower ends of the casing as previously explained in connection with the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4. The shafts 58, 59 project through stufling boxes and glands 60 in the upper ends of the casings. Toothed wheels 61, 62, are fixed upon the upper ends of the shafts 58, 59. The wheels 61, 62, by meshing, serve for driving the shafts 59 from the shaft 58. 63 is the main driving shaft which is arranged parallel to and at one side of the casings of the screw conveyers. 64 are sprocket wheels fixed upon the shaft 63; 65 sprocket wheels fixed upon the upper ends of the shafts 58, and 66 the chains for driving wheels 65 from wheels 64. Upon rotation of shaft 63 screw conveyer shafts 58 are rotated, and the motion is transmitted from the latter to the screw conveyer shafts 59 through toothed wheels 61', 62.

What I claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. Apparatus for treating crushed ore products for the recovery of the metal contents thereof, comprising in combination a settling vessel, a plurality of inter-communicating casings in communication with said vessel, and a screw conveyer in each casing.

2. Apparatus for treating crushed ore products for the recovery of the metal contents thereof, comprising in combination a settling vessel, a plurality of inclined intercommunicating casings, the lowermost casing being in communication with the settling vessel, and a screw conveyer in each casing.

3. Apparatus for treating crushed ore products for therecovery of the metal contents thereof, comprising in combination a settling vessel, a screw conveyer consisting of a plurality of sections, and a conveyer casing consisting of a corresponding number of inter-communicating sections in which the sections of the screw conveyers are arranged.

4. Apparatus for treating crushed ore products for the recovery of the metal contents thereof, comprising in combination a settling vessel, and a screw conveyer consisting of a plurality of sections and an inclined conveyer casing in communication with the bottom of the settling vessel, said casing consisting of a number of inter-communicating sections in which work the sections of the screw conveyer.

5. Apparatus for treating crushed ore products for the recovery of the metal contents thereof, comprising in combination a settling vessel having downwardly inclined r converging walls, a conveyer casing at the bottom of said vessel, a screw conveyer in said casing, a plurality of intercommunieating inclined casings, the lowermost of which is in communication with the conveyer casing at the bottom of the vessel, and a screw conveyer in each casing.

6. Apparatus for treating crushed ore products for the recovery of the metal con tents thereof, comprising in combination a settling vessel having downwardly converging sides, a conveyer casing at the bottom of said vessel for receiving the settled solids, a screw conveyer in said casing, a plurality of inter-communicating inclined casings, the lowermost of which. is in communication with the conveyer casing at the bottom of the vessel, a screw conveyer in each casing, and means for driving the screw conveyers from a common driving shaft.

7. Apparatus for treating crushed ore products for the recovery of the metal contents tliereof, comprising in combination a settling vessel having downwardly converging sides, a casing at the bottom of said vessel and in communication therewith, a conveyer in the vessel. for feeding the settled solids to said casing, a screw conveyer in the casing, a plurality of inter-communicating inclined casings, the lowermost section being in communication with the casing at the bottom of the settling vessel, and a screw conveyer in each casing.

8. Apparatus for treating crushed ore products for the recovery of the metal contents thereof, comprising in combination a settling vessel having downwardly converging sides, a casing at the bottom of said vessel and in communication therewith, a conveyer in the vessel for feeding the settled solids to said casing, said conveyer consisting of a vertical shaft and helically disposed arms fixed thereto, a screw conveyer in the aforesaid casing, a conveyer casing comprising a plurality of inclined inter-communieating casings, the lowermost inclined casing being in communication with the casing at the bottom of the settling vessel, and an inclined screw conveyer comprising a plurality of sections operating in the intercommunicating inclined casings.

said pinions 9. Apparatus for treating crushed ore products for the recovery of the metal contents thereof, comprising in combination a settling vessel having downwardly converging sides, a casing at the bottom of said was sel and in communication therewith for receiving the solids which settle in said vessel, a conveyer in the vessel for feeding the solids to said casing, a plurality of screw conveyers in said casing, a plurality of inclined conveyer casings, the lowermost sections of which are in communication with the casing at the bottom of the vessel and screw conveyers in the aforesaid casings, each of said latter conveyers comprising a plurality of sections working in the intercommunicating casings as set forth.

10. Apparatus for treating crushed ore products for the recovery of the metal contents thereof, comprising in combination a settling vessel having downwardly converging sides, a casing at the bottom of said vessel and in communication therewith, a conveyer in the vessel for feeding the settled solids to said casing, said conveyer consisting of a vertical shaft and helically disposed arms fixed thereto, a plurality of screw conveyers in the aforesaid casing, partitions in said casing between said screw conveyers, means for driving said screw conveyers, a plurality of inclined conveyer casings each comprising a number of inter-communicating sections, the lowermost sections being in communication wit-h the casing at the bottom of the settling vessel, a sectional inclined screw conveyer in each inclined conveyer casing, means for driving the sectional screw conveyers, comprising a shaft, pinions on said shaft, gear wheels on the shafts of alternate sections of the conveyers with which mesh, countershafts, gear wheels on said shafts meshing the gear wheels on the conveyer shafts, further countershafts, gear wheels on said shafts meshing the wheels on the first mentioned countershafts, gear wheels on the shafts of the intermediate sections of the screw conveyers and gear wheels on the second countershafts meshing the gear wheels on the shafts of the intermediate sections of the conveyers, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALEXANDER JOHN ARBUCKLE.

WVitnesses CnAs. OVENDALE, Mann Porn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O. 

